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Search to resume for kidnapped baby from Upper Darby

By BRANDIE KESSLER Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
08/13/2013 04:06:52 PM EDT

Law enforcement officials search the area for 7-month-old Hamza Ali, believed to have been killed by his mother's boyfriend, Ummad Rushdi, near the Susquehanna River in Columbia Wednesday, August 7, 2013. Police are expected to resume their search in this area today and continue for at least three days. (Daily Record/Sunday News -- Kate Penn)

Upper Darby Supt. Michael Chitwood said officers from his department were headed to York County to continue searching for baby Hamza Ali Tuesday.

He said four officers were going to search an area of Columbia, Lancaster County, where they had searched last week, as well as an area surrounding the Windsor Township, York County, home of Ummad Rushdi, who's been charged with kidnapping baby Hamza.

"The goal is to just recheck the area," Chitwood said. He noted that officers would be expanding the search in the area around the home.

Chitwood said his department spent Monday assembling a timeline.

"We're developing a timeline on Ummad (Rushdi) from when he left (Upper Darby) Sunday to when he was arrested Wednesday," Chitwood said. He noted investigators are trying to get surveillance video for any stores and places where Rushdi might have been to assist in developing the timeline.

The four Upper Darby officers will stay in York County for at least three or four days, Chitwood said.

"I've got two cars (going to York County), so they're going to be floating around," he said. Officers would again be using cadaver dogs to assist in the search.

Chitwood said his department has reached out to Rushdi, who is incarcerated in lieu of $750,000 cash bail awaiting a preliminary hearing, to see whether he will cooperate with their search. Rushdi won't talk, Chitwood said.

Chitwood said officers from Columbia and York Area Regional departments have continued to supply his department with resources to assist in the ongoing investigation.

About the case

Gaal told police that when she woke about 10 a.m. Aug. 4, Rushdi, 30, her baby, and a Lincoln Continental belonging to Jawwad Rushdi, Ummad Rushdi's brother, were gone from the house, according to court documents.

Police said Jawwad Rushdi told her Ummad Rushdi, of Windsor Township, had taken the baby to her parents' house in Maine. But, on Aug. 6, Jawwad Rushdi told her that Ummad Rushdi told him he'd killed Hamza and buried the baby's body, police said.

In court documents, police say Jawwad Rushdi told them that Ummad Rushdi said that, when Hamza would not stop crying early Sunday morning, he picked the baby up and shook him. Hamza became unconscious. Ummad Rushdi told his brother that he attempted CPR but couldn't revive the baby, documents state.

Ummad Rushdi then took the child from the home and buried him, documents state.